Contact us

Connect with us

Testimonial

"We had taken Healy Consultants assistance in incorporating our entities in some of the complicated jurisdictions. Their approach right from the beginning has been very systematic, clear and efficient. It has been a pleasure to work with all of them."

"Thank you Healy Consultants for swiftly project managing my engagement. From the moment I met you in Singapore Healy Consultants attended to my requirements and specific needs. I am more than satisfied with your service. Moreover, your weekly updates allowed me to continue to focus my attention on my global business while trusting you to deliver as promised."

"Thank you Healy Consultants, you were instrumental in setting up of my Hong Kong based company, the whole process was completed in a professional and timely manner."

Terry Skews, CEO Brittany Offshore Limited

"Healy Consultants, a professionally managed firm with clear understanding and knowledge about what client expects from them and delivers the same in a professional and timely manner. Kudos to their team."

"Incorporating any company is comparable to setting the foundation blocks of your new company building, which you aim to build in the best location available. By choosing Healy Consultants you are laying the perfect foundations."

"The one word that defines Healy Consultants is perfect professionalism. If you have Healy to set up your business abroad, you could focus on the operational overhead and let Healy take care of the rest. From Incorporation to Taxation, it’s a one stop solution. Rest assured, you will have the best people in the Industry working for you and providing you with the best possible information and suggestions."

Raja Chakraborty, Director Streamlyn Pte. Ltd.

"Thank you Healy Consultants for successfully project managing our business set up in Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar and Bahrain."

"When it was time to establish a Space Academy in Singapore, TriVector needed a knowledgeable firm that could not only help us establish our infrastructure, but could also advise on the local and regional business climate. Healy was that firm, which is why we've been satisfied Healy Consultants for almost five years now."

"Healy Consultants were instrumental in the set up of our company. They have continued to provide exceptional support and advice over the years."

Susan Gunnery, Managing Director Qudoss Group

"Healy Consultants is the best firm that we have ever worked with. Through our entire business relationship we were satisfied with provided level of quality and services. Healy Consultants have been responsive and detail oriented which has allowed us to stay focused on our business and not getting distracted with small details."

"Not only did Healy Consultants have expert knowledge of local requirements, they also understood my needs as a foreigner, which is something lacking with the Singaporean consulting firms I spoke to. They drove the process from start to completion. I’m more than satisfied with the service."

Japan free zones

Japan free zones

Japan’s free trade zones are attractive options for business setups since they offer foreign companies partial tax exemption and partial custom duties exemption. The FTZ include: i) Okinawa SFTZ, optimal for semiconductor, circuit board and precision grind jigs production ii) Naha FTZ, optimal for business operating in manufacturing, cargo, ship building and import and export, and iii) Nigata Free Port, suitable for business in the sectors of sea freight, international distribution, energy and foreign trade.

Advantages of registering a company in one of Japan’s free trade zone

Japanese free trade zones offer a variety of tax benefits.

Companies incorporated within a Japanese FTZ are exempted from tariffs (up to 100%) and domestic consumption tax (up to 100%) for i) goods imported in the FTZ for manufacturing and ii) re-exported goods;

For companies operating in Okinawa SFTZ, 30% of the income tax earned by companies is exempted from corporate tax for a period of 10 years;

Furthermore, 15% of machinery and equipment costs and 6% of building costs are deductible for expanding their facilities;

For companies operating under Naha FTZ, 40% of corporate income is exempted from income tax for the first 10 years after incorporation;

Companies operating in the Niigata Free Port are exempted from real estate tax and corporate tax for a period of 3 years.

All the Free Trade Zones are located next to ports and air terminals, facilitating logistics and lowering transportation costs.

Requirements of Japan’s free trade zone

All of the Free Zones require the companies to follow the same requirements as the general rules of setting up a company in Japan: i) minimum share capital of US$50,000, ii) resident director and iii) rental of office space;

In relation to Okinawa Special Free Trade Zone, the following specific requirements apply:

Companies that are eligible for the income tax deduction under the Okinawa SFTZ are only companies engaged in i) manufacturing ii) packaging and iii) warehousing;

In order to have access to further local tax benefits, the required minimum paid up capital is 10 million JPY.

Comparison between the free zones

Summary at a glance

Okinawa SFTZ

Naha FTZ

Niigata Free Port

Average annual Industrial space rent per 1000 sqm

US$96,000

US$90,000

US$82,000

How long to incorporate the company?

5-6 weeks

5-6 weeks

5-6 weeks

How long to open company bank account?

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

Quality of Utilities

Very Good

Good

Good

Allowed to sign sales contracts with Japanese Clients?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Allowed to invoice Japanese Clients?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Corporate tax payable in Japan

Dependent on activity

Dependent on activity

Dependent on activity

Corporate bank account

SCB or HSBC

SCB or HSBC

SCB or HSBC

Industrial space availability

Limited

Many

Many

Allowed to import raw materials?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Allowed to export goods?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wholly foreign owned

Yes

Yes

Yes

Can the entity hire expatriate staff in Japan?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Do you visit Japan for company incorporation?

No

No

No

Minimum number of directors

1

1

1

Minimum number of shareholders

1

1

1

Tax registration certificate required

Yes

Yes

Yes

Individual shareholders allowed

Yes

Yes

Yes

Corporate shareholders allowed

Yes

Yes

Yes

Corporate director(s) allowed

Yes

Yes

Yes

Public register of shareholders and directors

Yes

Yes

Yes

LLC company allowed

Yes

Yes

Yes

Can apply for immigration visas

Yes

Yes

Yes

Annual audited financial statements

Yes

Yes

Yes

External videos

Frequently asked questions

Can Healy Consultants help me setup a company in Japan’s free zones?

Yes, Healy Consultants would be pleased to assist our Clients to establish a company in Japan’s free zones. Depending on our Client’s business and requirements, Healy Consultants will recommend the best free trade zone in Japan.

Why incorporate in a Japan free zone?

There are several incentives for companies in Japan’s free trade zones including i) tax exemptions ii) subsidies and iii) long term financing facilities.

What kind of business entity do foreign companies usually incorporate in Japan free trade zone?

We recommend foreign companies to incorporate an LLC (Godo Kaisha) if they are looking to setup in a free trade zone. At present, most of the companies in Japan’s free trade zones are local companies.